Clinicopathological features of superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor.

BACKGROUND: Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastoma (SCPFT) is a newly discovered mesenchymal tumor characterized by high polymorphism, low mitotic rate, and diffuse CD34-positive reactions. AIM: To further determine the clinicopathological features of SCPFT. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data, immunohistochemistry results, and differential diagnoses of four patients with SCPFT and performed a literature review. Relevant fusion genes were also detected. RESULTS: The tumors were all located in the lower extremities and presented as slow-growing painless masses located in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Microscopically, the tumors were composed of spindle-shaped to epithelioid cells with scattered abnormal and pleomorphic nuclei on a fibrous or fibromyxoid background. Necrosis was not found in the tumor tissues, and mitotic figures were rare. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin and CD34, and CKpan showed focal positivity in two tumors. All four patients were followed (13-57 mo, mean 35 mo), and one patient experienced local recurrence. CONCLUSION: SCPFT is a newly discovered borderline mesenchymal tumor that can locally recur or even metastasize. Familiarity with its clinicopathological features will help avoid confusion with skin mesenchymal tumors with similar features.

Expression of PTTG1 and PTEN in endometrial carcinoma: correlation with tumorigenesis and progression.

Human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is a newly identified proto-oncogene, and its overexpression occurs in a wide variety of human cancers. The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) is frequently mutated or deleted in numerous tumors, especially in endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the aberrant expression of PTTG1 and PTEN is associated with tumorigenesis and progression of endometrial carcinoma. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining were undertaken in 124 endometrial carcinoma, 28 atypical hyperplasia and 35 normal endometrium samples. Then, the correlation of PTTG1 and PTEN expression with the clinicopathological features and with the levels of estrogen and progesterone receptor was analyzed. The presence of PTTG1 and PTEN protein was significantly increased and decreased, respectively, as lesions progressed from normal endometrium to atypical hyperplasia to carcinoma. PTTG1 protein showed a significantly positive correlation with TNM stage, but not with other characteristics. In addition, PTEN protein did not correlate with any parameters except for histological grade, to which it was found to be inversely related. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant relationship between an increase in PTTG1 and a decrease in PTEN. These results indicate that high expression of PTTG1 and low expression of PTEN may be involved in pathogenesis and development of endometrial carcinoma. The findings also provide evidence that combined evaluation of the two markers may be useful in predicting tumor behavior and thus prognosis.

[Clinicopathologic analysis of the nipple-areolar complex occult involvement in early stage breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of nipple-areola complex (NAG) involvement in stage I - II a breast cancer patients who underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and to determine the associated risk factors, to provide a theoretical basis for modified radical mastectomy preserving NAC and breast reconstruction in early stage breast cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 68 women with primary breast cancer were included in this study. The following associated risk factors of NAC involvement were assessed and compared with those of non-involvement: the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), axillary lymph node status, over-expression of HER-2/neu, location of tumor, TNM stage, abnormal nipple (nipple indentation, erosion, discharge), tumor size, age, histological type, as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), by Chi-square test. RESULTS: The positive rate of NAG involvement was 13.2%. It decreased with an increase in the distance from the tumor site to the edge of the areola (D) (chi2 = 10.68, P <0.01)), and higher incidence of NAG involvement was found in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis (chi2 = 14. 61, P < 0.01) and over-expression of HER-2/neu (chi2 =6.83, P <0.01). Location of tumor (P <0.01), TNM stage (chi2 =3.85, P <0.05), abnormal nipple (chi2 = 11.65, P<0.01), and tumor size (chi2 =4.13, P <0.05) also had influence on the NAG involvement. No significant correlation between NAC involvement and age (P > 0.05)), histological type (chi2 = 0.07, P > 0.05)), as well as status of estrogen receptor (ER) (chi2 = 0.06, P > 0.05) and progesterone receptor (PR) (chi2 = 0.04, P > 0.05) was found. Most of the NAG involvement was caused by ductal infiltration. CONCLUSION: In the stage I - II a breast cancer patients, location of tumor, TNM stage, the distance from the tumor site to the edge of areola (D), abnormal nipple, over-expression of HER-2 and metastases in axillary lymph nodes are the primary influential factors of NAG involvement.